Combination can and plastic nozzle



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COUINATON Cim AND PLASTIC NZZLE Film! DQS. 28, 1965 T YORNE United States Patent Gfce 3,388,842 Patented June 18, 1968 3,388,842 COMBINATIQN CAN AND PLASTIC NOZZLE Allan A. Costa, 682 Uball Road, West Islip, N.Y. 11795 Filed Dec. Z8, 1965, Ser. No. 516,840 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-566) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention is for a structure comprising, in combination, a can having a top wall and a lluid receiving opening therein which is bounded by a relatively short neck, and a unitary tubular nozzle of plastic, the nozzle having an upper area merging into a lower area and an intermediate outwardly-extending shoulder terminating in a downwardly extending skirt spaced from the outer nozzle wall and outwardly bounding a channel adapted to receive the can neck, the depth of the channel permitting contact of the skirt with the top of the can. The lower area of the nozzle extends below the inner face of the can top and having an outwardly-extending shoulder adapted to engage the can top inner face, the said shoulder being above the end of the nozzle lower area, which end is inwardly beveled to form a wedge. The can neck has spaced tapered and closed-bottom cut-outs, and the nozzle within its said channel carries spaced projections formed for close fit in said tapered cut-outs.

The object of the present invention is to provide a combination metal can and plastic nozzle, capable for use in high speed assembly and enabling the filling of the can through a relatively large opening designed to receive the nozzle, the assembly being effected by moving the nozzle downwardly with relative rotation of the nozzle and can, to provide inter-engagement of elements holding the nozzle from turning, as in mechanical application of a threaded cap to the nozzle.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a composite perspective view of a can constructed to utilize the invention, and with the nozzle above it and in position for assembly on the can. v

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view illustrating the skirted plastic nozzle.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the can top as shown in FIGURE l, being a section on line 3 3, FIG. 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the assembled nozzle and can, the latter being broken away as shown.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that in FIGURE 1, a can, indicated at 1, is shown, the can having an upwardly projecting neck Z, provided with a plurality of cut-outs at 3. In the present embodiment the cut-outs are three in number, although this is a matter of selection since two, or in some cases one, will suce.

In FIGURES 1 and 4 the nozzle is shown at 4 as related to the can. It is shown with an inner annular wall, and also when used, with an outer wall having a ring-like channel at S which has a lower shoulder at 6 above an inward bevel area of the outer nozzle face. This bevel at the lower end of the nozzle provides an annular wedge which initially engages the inner wall of the can neck, and as the nozzle is pressed downwardly into the can neck the plastic nozzle will yield and finally spring outwardly to bring shoulder 6 under the wall of the can at its opening.

In the drawings the nozzle is shown with a skirt 7 partly overhanging the ring-like channel 5. This enables the nozzle to grip, by said skirt, the outer wall of the can neck 2 and this is advantageous. In cases where the skirt is not required, it can be eliminated, as below the dotted line C, FIGURE 4.

Between the inner wall and its outer skirt (when used), a plurality of projections 8 are integrally formed in the molding of the plastic material which forms the nozzle. These projections will be the same in number as the cutouts 3 in the neck of the can, and will be proportioned to closely fit said cut-outs. When the nozzle of FIG- URES 2 and 3 is. applied to the can neck 2 of FIGURE l, this will be effected by rotation and downward movement of the nozzle and by a tight press lit. This is fully operative since the inner wall and the skirt of the nozzle are suiciently resilient for that purpose. The projections or lugs 7 will be received within the cut-outs 3, and will resist torquing action when a cap is machine applied to a nozzle, since in general practice the nozzle will be threaded to receive a threaded cap.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In combination, a can having a top wall and a fluidreceiving opening bounded by an upwardly extending relatively short neck, a unitary tubular nozzle having an upper area merging into a lower area and having an intermediate outwardly-extending shoulder terminating in a downwardly extending skirt spaced from the outer nozzle face and outwardly bounding a channel adapted to receive the can neck with a close fit, the depth of the channel enabling contact of the lower edge of the skirt with the top of the can, the lower area of the nozzle being formed to extend below the inner face of the can top and having an outwardly extending shoulder adapted to engage said can top inner face, said shoulder being above a terminating end area of the nozzle, the outer wall of said terminating end being inwardly beveled, said can neck having spaced tapered and closed-bottom cut-outs, and the nozzle within its said channel carrying spaced projections conforming with and adapted for close t in said tapered cut-outs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Schultz u 222-570 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. 

